3D image reproduction device and method capable of selecting 3D mode for 3D image

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for reproducing a 3D image, and provides a 3D image reproduction device capable of selecting a 3D mode for a 3D image, comprising: a formatting unit which generates and transmits 3D image data for an inputted image signal; a mode input unit which receives the selection from a user for a 3D mode that the user wants to reproduce; and a user input processor which enables the formatting unit to generate the 3D image data in the 3D mode that is inputted from the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.13/320,880 filed on Nov. 16, 2011, which is a National Stage ofPCT/KR2009/004075 filed on Jul. 22, 2009, which claims the benefit ofProvisional Application No. 61/179,018 filed on May 18, 2009. Thecontents of each of these applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates to a device and method for reproducing 3Dimages and, more particularly, to a device and method for reproducing 3Dimages of various 3D modes.

Description of the Related Art

Recently, as the interest in stereoscopic image services is growing,devices for providing stereoscopic images continue to be developed.Among the schemes for implementing such stereoscopic images is astereoscopic scheme.

A basic principle of the stereoscopic image is that arranged images areseparately input such that they are perpendicular to the left and righteyes of a person (or a user) and the images separately input to the leftand right eyes are combined in the user's brain to generate astereoscopic image. In this case, the arrangement of the images suchthat they are perpendicular means that the respective images do notinterfere with each other.

Methods for preventing interference include a polarization scheme, atime-sequential scheme, and a spectral scheme.

First, the polarization scheme refers to separating respective images byusing a polarization filter. Namely, the polarization filterperpendicular to an image for the left eye and an image for the righteye is employed to make different images filtered by the polarizationfilter input to the left and right visual fields. The time-divisionscheme refers to alternately displaying left and right images and activeglasses worn by the user is synchronized with the alternately displayedimages to thus separate the respective images. Namely, when the imagesare alternately displayed, the shutter of the synchronized activeglasses opens only the visual field to which a corresponding image is tobe input and blocks the other visual field to separately input the leftand right images.

Meanwhile, the spectral scheme refers to projecting left and rightimages through a spectral filter having a spectrum band in which RGBspectrums do not overlap with each other. With respect to the thuslyprojected left and right images, the user wears passive glassesincluding a spectral filter passing through only a spectral area set forthe left and right images, thus separately receiving the left and rightimages.

However, there are various 3D modes for the 3D image signals input toperform the foregoing related art 3D image implementing method, andfailure of identifying 3D modes would lead to failure of implementationof 3D images.

In particular, in case of a 3D TV (three-dimensional television)displaying 3D images, unless the 3D modes are properly identified andformatted for a display output appropriately, 3D images cannot beproperly displayed. Thus, in the case of the 3D TV, a 3D mode of aninput 3D image signal is required to be confirmed and 3D image data isrequired to be formatted accordingly. However, a method enabling a 3D TVto confirm a 3D mode of an input 3D image signal and form a 3D imageaccording to the corresponding mode has not been implemented yet.

Thus, without knowledge of such a situation, the user may fail toproperly enjoy viewing of 3D images due to improper 3D image formatting.Also, in order to recognize and set a mode that is appropriate for the3D mode applied to the 3D image signal, users are faced withinconveniences.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a 3D imagereproduction device and method capable of allowing for easily confirmingthe 3D mode that is appropriate for the input 3D image signals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a 3D imagereproduction device and method capable of confirming a 3D modeappropriate for an input 3D image signal and quickly changing a settinginto a corresponding mode.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a 3D imagereproduction device and method capable of allowing for quicklyconfirming and setting a 3D mode appropriate for an input 3D imagesignal, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided adevice for reproducing a 3D image capable of selecting a 3D mode for a3D image, including: a formatting unit which generates and transmits 3Dimage data for an inputted image signal; a mode input unit whichreceives the selection from a user for a 3D mode that the user wants toreproduce; and a user input processor which enables the formatting unitto generate the 3D image data in the 3D mode that is inputted from theuser.

The device may further include: a display unit that displays thereceived 3D image data, wherein the formatting unit may generate the 3Dimage data according to each 3D mode with respect to the input imagesignal, and transmit the 3D image data to the display unit such that the3D image data is displayed predetermined regions set for each 3D mode.

The device may further include: a memory unit that stores the 3D imagedata for each of the 3D modes generated by the formatting unit. Thememory unit may be integrally configured with the formatting unit.

The formatting unit may display the 3D image data generated in the 3Dmode input by the user, on the overall screen of the display unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for reproducing a 3D image capable of selecting a 3D mode for a3D image, including: a first step of generating and transmitting 3Dimage data for each 3D mode with respect to an input 3D image signal; asecond step of displaying the received 3D image data on predeterminedregions set for each 3D mode; and a third step of receiving theselection from the user for a 3D mode that the user wants to reproduceand generating the 3D image data in a 3D mode input by the user based onthe selected 3D mode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for reproducing a 3D image capable of selecting a 3D mode for a3D image, including: a first step of processing an input 3D image signalin the same manner as that of a general 2D image signal and displayingthe same along with a screen allowing for selecting a 3D mode withrespect to the 3D image signal; a second step of receiving the selectionfrom the user for a 3D mode that the user wants to reproduce; and athird step of generating 3D image data in the 3D mode received from theuser and displaying the generated 3D image data.

In the device and method for reproducing a 3D image according toembodiments of the present invention, a 3D mode appropriate for an input3D image signal can be easily confirmed.

Also, a 3D mode appropriate for an input 3D image signal can be easilyconfirmed, and a setting can be quickly changed into a correspondingmode.

In addition, since a 3D mode appropriate for an input 3D image signalcan be quickly confirmed and set, the convenience of use for the usercan be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates six views including: (a) a view showing a framesequential mode among 3D modes of an input 3D image signal, (b) a viewshowing a side-by-side mode among 3D modes of an input 3D image signal,(c) a view showing a top-down mode among 3D modes of an input 3D imagesignal, (d) a view showing a checker board mode among 3D modes of aninput 3D image signal, (e) a view showing a horizontal interlaced modeamong 3D modes of an input 3D image signal, and (f) a view showing avertical interlaced mode among 3D modes of an input 3D image signal.

FIG. 2 is a view explaining an operation of formatting a 3D imagesignal, by an existing formatting unit, to output 3D image display.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a device for reproducing a 3Dimage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a method for displaying 3D imagedata generated for each mode on predetermined regions of a display unitby the 3D image reproduction device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the 3D imagereproduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a method for confirming andsetting a 3D mode of a 3D image signal by using a 2D image screen by the3D image reproduction device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of displaying a 2D image change areaallowing for selecting of changing into a 2D image by the 3D imagereproduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of displaying a left/right imagechange selection area for changing positions of left and right images bythe 3D image reproduction device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The term 3-D or 3D is used to describe a visual expression or displaytechnique for reproducing 3D images/video having the illusion effect ofdepth. As for a left eye image and a right eye image, the visual cortexof an observer (or a user) interprets the two images as a single 3Dimage.

A 3D display technique employs a 3D image processing and expressingtechnique with respect to a device available for displaying a 3D image.Optionally, the device available for displaying a 3D image may use aspecial observation or viewing device in order to effectively provide a3D image to the observer.

Display devices for displaying a 3D image may include, for example, anLED (Liquid Crystal Display), a digital TV screen, a computer monitor,or the like, including appropriate hardware and/or software supporting a3D display technique. Special observation devices may include, forexample, specialized glasses, goggles, head gear, eyewear, and the like.

In detail, the 3D image display technique may include an anaglyphstereoscopic image (which is generally used together with passiveanaglyph glasses), a polarized stereoscopic image (which is generallyused together with passive polarized glasses), alternate-framessequencing (which is generally used together with active shutterglasses/head gear), an autostereoscopic display using a lenticular orbarrier screen, and the like. Various concepts and features describedhereinafter can be applicable to such stereoscopic image displaytechniques.

A 3D image display technique may use an optical device which rotates oralternately operates, e.g., a segmented polarizer attached to a colorfilter wheel, and in this case, synchronization therebetween isrequired. Another 3D image display technique may use a digital lightprocessor (DLP) based on a digital micromirror device (DMD) using arotatable microscopic mirror disposed in a quadrangular arrangementcorresponding to pixels of an image to be displayed.

Meanwhile, new standards related to a stereoscopic image rendering anddisplay technique (in particular, 3D TV) is currently being developed byvarious enterprises, consortiums, and organizations. For example, thenew standards may include SMPTE (the Society of Motion Picture andTelevision Engineers), CEA (Consumer Electronics Association), 3d@Homeconsortium, ITU (International Telecommunication Union), and the like.Besides, other standardization groups such as DVB, BDA, ARIB, ATSC, DVDforum, IEC, etc. are participating. MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)is participating 3D image coding of a multiview image, a stereoscopicimage, and a 2D image having depth information, and currently, amultiview video codec extension with respect to MPEG-4 AVC (advancedvideo coding) is under standardization. Stereoscopic image coding andstereoscopic distribution formatting are related with color shifting(anaglyph), pixel sub-sampling (side-by-side, checkerboard, quincunx,etc.), and enhanced video coding (2D+Delta, 2D+Metadata, 2D having depthinformation). Concepts and features described herein can be applicableto such standards.

In addition, at least a portion of the concepts and features of theinvention described herein are related with a 3D image display techniqueexplained in the aspect of image reproducing and display environmentwith respect to a digital image or a 3D TV. However, details thereof donot limit various features described herein and can be applicable tovarious other types of display techniques and devices. For example, the3D TV technique can be applicable to Blu-Ray™, console games, cable,IPTV transmissions, mobile phone contents delivery, and the like, aswell as to TV broadcasts, and in this case, the 3D TV technique isrequired to be compatible with a different type TV, a set-top box (STB),a Blu-ray device (e.g., a Blu-Ray™ disk (BD) player), a DVD player, anda TV contents distributor.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same referencenumerals denote the same elements throughout the drawings.

When left and right images are transmitted to form a stereoscopic image,frames of 60 times or more per second are transmitted for the respectiveimages. Namely, when the images are displayed on a screen at a rate of atotal 120 Hz or higher, a stereoscopic image without flickering can beimplemented.

In this case, 3D modes applicable to an input 3D image signal mayinclude a frame sequential scheme, a side-by-side scheme, a top-downscheme, a checker board scheme, an interlaced scheme, and the like.

Hereinafter, various 3D modes applicable to a 3D image signal will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1(a) to 1(f). FIGS. 1(a) to 1(f) areviews showing various 3D modes applied to a 3D image signal.

First, FIG. 1(a) is a view showing a frame sequential mode among 3Dmodes of a 3D image signal.

As shown in FIG. 1(a), in the frame sequential mode, left and rightimages are sequentially alternately positioned as one frame each.

FIG. 1(b) is a view showing a side-by-side mode among 3D modes of a 3Dimage signal.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), the side-by-side mode is half sub-sampling theleft and right images, respectively, in a horizontal direction andpositioning the sampled left and right images at left and rightportions, respectively.

FIG. 1(c) is a view showing a top-down mode among 3D modes of an input3D image signal.

As shown in FIG. 1(c), the top-down mode is half sub-sampling the leftand right images in a vertical direction and positioning the left andright images at upper and lower portions.

FIG. 1(d) is a view showing a checker board mode among 3D modes of aninput 3D image signal.

As shown in FIG. 1(d), the checker board mode is half sub-sampling theleft and right images in vertical and horizontal directions,respectively, and alternately positioning the pixels of the sampled leftimage and those of the sampled right image by one pixel each time.

FIG. 1(e) is a view showing a horizontal interlaced mode among 3D modesof an input 3D image signal.

As shown in FIG. 1(e), the horizontal interlaced mode is halfsub-sampling the left and right images in a vertical direction andpositioning the pixels of the sampled left image and those of thesampled right image alternately by line.

FIG. 1(f) is a view showing a vertical interlaced mode among 3D modes ofan input 3D image signal.

As shown in FIG. 1(f), the vertical interlaced mode is half sub-samplingthe left and right images in a horizontal direction and positioning thepixels of the sampled left image and those of the sampled right imagealternately by line.

In general, the formatting unit of the 3D image reproduction devicereceives 3D image signals having various modes as mentioned above,formats the same for a 3D image display output, and transmits theformatted signals to a display device such as an LCD panel.

In this case, if a 3D mode of the 3D image signal does not fit the formof the formatting performed by the formatting unit, a 3D image cannot beproperly displayed on the display device. FIG. 2 is a view explainingthe operation of the formatting unit.

FIG. 2 is a view explaining an operation of formatting a 3D imagesignal, by an existing formatting unit, to output 3D image display.

The present invention proposes a method for allowing a user to easilyconfirm various 3D modes of a 3D image signal and quickly setting anappropriate mode.

A 3D image reproduction device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3is a schematic block diagram of a 3D image reproduction device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

The 3D image reproduction device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention includes an image receiving unit 300 receiving animage signal and generating a 3D image signal, a formatting unit 310receiving the 3D image signal and formatting the same according to eachmode to generate 3D image data, a memory unit 320 storing the 3D imagedata generated for each mode by the formatting unit 310, a user inputprocessing unit 330 receiving a selection with respect to a 3D mode fromthe user and controlling the formatting unit 310 based on the receivedselection, and a display unit 340 displaying a 3D image.

The operation of the 3D image reproduction device configured asdescribed above will be described in detail.

First, the image signal receiving unit 300 receives radio waves such asa broadcast signal or an image signal from a storage medium such as adisk, or the like, and generates a 3D image signal therefrom. Ingeneral, image data transmitted by radio waves or a disk is formatted inthe form of transport stream of a moving picture experts group (MPEG)system.

In particular, MPEG-2, a processing method for compressing high qualityvideo, is widely used in various fields such as a storage medium such asa digital versatile disk (DVD), a satellite cable, a digital TVbroadcast such as terrestrial waves, or the like, a personal videorecorder (PVR), a video transmission in a network, and the like.

The formatting unit 310 formats the received 3D image signal accordingto each mode to generate 3D image data and stores the generated data inthe memory unit 320. Namely, the formatting unit 310 formats thereceived 3D image signal according to the frame sequential mode, theside-by-side mode, the top-down mode, the checker board mode, ahorizontal interlaced mode, a vertical interlaced mode, and the like,and stores the generated 3D image data in the memory unit 320.

In this case, it may be configured such that the types of the 3D modesare stored as default values in the formatting unit 310. In a differentembodiment of the present invention, it may be configured such that thetypes of 3D modes are received from a user.

Also, the formatting unit 310 transmits the 3D image data of each modeto the display unit 340 to display the 3D image data in predeterminedregions set for each 3D mode, respectively. A method for displaying the3D image data generated for each mode in predetermined regions of thedisplay unit 340 is illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a method for displaying 3D imagedata generated for each mode on predetermined regions of a display unitby the 3D image reproduction device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Here, the predetermined regions of the display unit 340 on which the 3Dimage data of each mode are displayed may be configured to be stored asa default value. In a different embodiment of the present invention, theconfiguration of the predetermined regions for each mode may be changedby the user.

Meanwhile, the memory unit 320 stores 3D image data generated accordingto each 3D mode by the formatting unit 310. In a different embodiment ofthe present invention, the memory unit 320 may not be separatelyprovided but may be integrally configured with the formatting unit 310.Also, in a different embodiment of the present invention, the formattingunit 310 may transmit 3D image data for each 3D mode upon generating thesame to the display unit 340 to allow the display unit 340 to displaythe same, without the memory unit 320.

When a 3D mode selection is input from the user the user inputprocessing unit 330 controls the formatting unit 310 accordingly todisplay 3D image data of a 3D mode selected by the user on the overallscreen of the display unit 340 and stop generation of 3D image data in adifferent 3D mode.

Here, as a device for inputting the selection of the 3D mode to the userinput processing unit 330 by the user, an input button, a remotecontroller, or the like, may be used.

The display unit 340 displays the 3D image data transferred from theformatting unit 310. As the display unit 340, an LCD panel may be, forexample, used.

An operation of the 3D image reproduction device according to anembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the 3D imagereproduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the image signal receiving unit 300 receives radio waves such asa broadcast signal or an image signal from a storage medium such as adisk, or the like, and generates a 3D image signal therefrom (S500).

The formatting unit 310 formats the 3D image signal input from the imagesignal receiving unit 300 according to each 3D mode to generate 3D imagedata, and stores the generated 3D image data in the memory unit 320(S510).

Thereafter, the formatting unit 310 transmits the 3D image datagenerated for each 3D mode to the display unit 340 to display the 3Dimage data in predetermined regions set for each 3D mode, respectively(S520).

The user input processing unit 330 receives a 3D mode that the userwants to reproduce among the displayed 3D modes through an input button,or the like, from the user (S530).

The user input processing unit 330 controls the formatting unit 310based on the mode selection input from the user to display the 3D imagedata generated in the 3D mode selected by the user on the overall screenof the display unit 340 and stop generation of 3D image data in othermodes (S540).

Through such an operation, the 3D image reproduction device according toan embodiment of the present invention can quickly confirm and set the3D mode appropriate for the input 3D image signal, thereby improving theconvenience of usage for the user.

Meanwhile, in a different embodiment of the present invention, ratherthan formatting a 3D image signal according to each 3D mode anddisplaying the same, an input 3D image signal may be first displayed inthe form of a 2D image, and the user may visually confirm and set acorresponding 3D mode through the screen of the displayed 2D image.

The different embodiment of the present invention using a 2D imagescreen is illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a view showing an example ofa method for confirming and setting a 3D mode of a 3D image signal byusing a 2D image screen by the 3D image reproduction device according toan embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, a 3D image signal may be processed in the samemanner as that of a general 2D image signal and displayed at an upperportion of the screen, and the 2D image at the upper portion of thescreen has a screen configuration according to a 3D mode of a 3D imagesignal.

For example, when the 3D image signal has a side-by-side mode, a 2Dimage generated from the 3D image signal is displayed in a state inwhich a left image is positioned at a left portion of the screen and aright image is positioned at a right portion of the screen. Also, whenthe 3D image signal has a top-down mode, a 2D image generated from the3D image signal may be displayed such that a left image is positioned atan upper portion of the screen and a right image may be positioned at alower portion of the screen.

Thus, the user can visually confirm the 3D image of the input 3D imagesignal, and thereafter, the user may select a 3D mode consistent with a2D image from among the 3D modes displayed at the lower portion of thescreen, thereby easily setting the 3D mode appropriate for the 3D imagesignal.

Also, in a different embodiment of the present invention, a 3D image maybe changed into a 2D image according to a user selection. Namely, a 2Dimage selection area may be displayed on the screen displayed to allowselection of a 3D mode, and when a change into a 2D image is selectedthrough a 2D image selection area, displaying of the 3D image may bestopped and a general 2D image may be displayed.

An example of displaying a 2D image selection area on the screenaccording to a different embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of displayinga 2D image change area allowing for selecting of changing into a 2Dimage by the 3D image reproduction device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Accordingly, the user may select a 3D image or ageneral 2D image.

Here, the 2S image may be displayed by selecting any one of a left imageand a right image included in a 3D image signal, or the left and rightimages may be interpolated to generate a 2D image and the generated 2Dimage may be displayed.

Meanwhile, in a different embodiment of the present invention, thepositions of left and right images may be interchanged according to auser selection while a 3D image is being reproduced, thus generating a3D image.

Namely, it may happen that positions of left and right image framesconstituting a 3D image are not properly set in the process of producing3D image content.

In such a case, since the positions of the left and right image frameshave been interchanged, a left image is input to a human's right eye anda right image is input to the human's left eye. As a result, thestereoscopic effect of the 3D image is implemented to be opposite to theoriginal 3D image content, making the user feel mismatch of the 3D imagescreen.

Thus, in such a case, in an embodiment of the present invention, theleft and right images for generating a 3D image are interchanged togenerate a 3D image, to thus adjust mismatch of the screen resultingfrom the erroneous setting of the 3D image content.

An example of displaying a left/right image change selection area forchanging left and right images is illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is aview showing an example of displaying a left/right image changeselection area for changing positions of left and right images by the 3Dimage reproduction device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Here, the changing of the left and right I mages may beperformed in a toggle manner.

As shown in FIG. 8, the user may select the left/right image changeselection area to allow the 3D image reproduction device according to anembodiment of the present invention to generate a 3D image by changingthe positions of the left and right images. Through this method, the 3Dimage reproduction device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention can adjust the mismatch of the screen resulting from the 3Dimage content.

Various embodiments have been described to explain original conceptsrelated to various aspects of the present invention. However, one ormore detailed features of a particular embodiment may be applicable toone or more other embodiments. Components or steps described in eachembodiment and relevant drawings may be modified and supplementarycomponents and/or steps may be deleted, moved, or included.

The various features and concepts described here can be implemented bysoftware, hardware, firmware, middleware, or a combination thereof. Forexample, a computer program (which is executed by a computer, aprocessor, a controller, or the like) stored in a computer-executablemedium to implement the method and device for receiving a stereoscopicimage signal in a digital broadcast may include one or more program codesections performing various operations. Similarly, software tools (whichare executed by a computer, a processor, a controller, or the like)stored in a computer-executable medium to implement the method anddevice for receiving a stereoscopic image signal in a digital broadcastmay include part of program codes performing various operations.

The present invention can be applicable to various types of devices,namely, a digital TV, an LCD display device, a personal media player(PMP), a mobile phone, or the like, configured to receive and process adigital broadcast signal.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, itshould also be understood that the above-described embodiments are notlimited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within itsspirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore allchanges and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of theclaims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intendedto be embraced by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for reproducing 3D (three-dimensional)images, the device comprising: a user input unit configured to receive auser input; a display unit; and a formatter configured to receive a 3Dimage signal and convert the received 3D image signal to 3D image datato be displayed on the display unit according to one of a plurality of3D signal formats, wherein 3D mode information including a plurality ofmode images representing the plurality of 3D signal formats,respectively, is displayed on the display unit for selection by a user,wherein each of the plurality of mode images is selectable by the userthrough the user input unit, wherein a left image and a right image aregenerated by formatting the 3D image signal in a 2D image formattingmanner, wherein the 2D formatting manner represents that the left imageand the right image are displayed separate from each other withoutoverlapping and without providing a 3D effect, wherein the left imageand the right image are displayed side by side on the display unit, if a3D signal format of the 3D image signal corresponds to a side-by-sideformat, wherein the left image and the right image are displayed at anupper portion and a lower portion of the display unit, if the 3D signalformat of the 3D image signal corresponds to a top-down format, whereinthe left image, the right image and the 3D mode information aredisplayed on the display unit, simultaneously, wherein the user inputunit is further configured to receive a user selection of a mode imageamong the displayed plurality of mode images, and wherein the formatteris further configured to format the 3D image signal according to aparticular 3D signal format corresponding to the selected mode image, soas to generate the 3D image data corresponding to the 3D image signal.2. The device of claim 1, wherein the user input unit is furtherconfigured to receive the user selection of the mode image among thedisplayed plurality of mode images in a state where the 3D image signalis displayed on the display unit in a 2D image format.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of 3D signal formats include aside-by-side 3D format and a top-down 3D format.
 4. The device of claim1, wherein the plurality of mode images are displayed at a predeterminedregion of the display unit, and wherein the predetermined region of thedisplay unit is a part of an entire screen of the display unit.
 5. Thedevice of claim 4, wherein the generated 3D image data corresponding tothe 3D image signal formatted according to the particular 3D signalformat is displayed on the entire screen of the display unit.
 6. Thedevice of claim 4, wherein a 2D image selection area is included in thepredetermined region of the display unit.
 7. The device of claim 1,wherein one of left and right images included in the 3D image signal isdisplayed on the display unit when the user input unit receives a userselection for displaying a 2D image.
 8. The device of claim 1, whereinpositions of left and right images of the 3D image data are changedaccording to a user's input, and thereby the display unit displays a new3D image composed of the left and right images.
 9. A device forreproducing 3D (three-dimensional) images, the device comprising: a userinput unit which receives a selection from a user; a formatter whichreceives a 3D image signal, formats the 3D image signal to generate 3Dimage data; and a display unit, wherein 3D mode information includingdifferent types of 3D modes is displayed at a predetermined region ofthe display unit, wherein a left image and a right image are generatedby formatting the 3D image signal in a 2D formatting manner, wherein the2D formatting manner represents that the left image and the right imageare displayed separate from each other without overlapping and withoutproviding a 3D effect, wherein the left image and the right image aredisplayed side by side on the display unit, if a 3D signal format of the3D image signal corresponds to a side-by-side format, wherein the leftimage and the right image are displayed at an upper portion and a lowerportion of the display unit, if the 3D signal format of the 3D imagesignal corresponds to a top-down format, wherein the left image, theright image and the 3D mode information are displayed on the displayunit, simultaneously, wherein the user input unit receives a userselection of a 3D mode among the different types of 3D modes included inthe 3D mode information, and wherein the formatter formats the imagesignal into a particular 3D format represented by the user selected 3Dmode, so as to generate 3D image data corresponding to the received 3Dimage signal.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the user input unit isfurther configured to receive the user selection of the 3D mode amongthe different types of 3D modes in a state where wherein the 3D imagesignal is displayed on the display unit in a 2D image format.
 11. Thedevice of claim 10, wherein the different types of 3D modes include atleast one of a side-by-side 3D mode and a top-down 3D mode.